Chapter 167
Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Roana,
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We all gathered in the basement while Cassian kept roaring, snarling, and growling at us. The sound echoed off the concrete walls, raw and feral, vibrating through my bones. Each roar felt like it clawed at my chest. The scene was breaking my heart. Every time his chains rattled or his claws scraped the floor, my shoulders flinched on instinct.
But our eyes were on Carl, whose face turned pale the moment he saw Cassian again. The color drained from him so fast it was almost frightening. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t find the strength to breathe.
“What do you mean by his other side?” I asked, my voice sharp and dripping with impatience. My nails dug into my palm as I spoke. My attention kept drifting back to Cassian. His chest was rising and falling heavily, breath coming out in harsh bursts. But at least he was there. Alive. Breathing.
“Well, maybe Rosetta should explain from the beginning,” Carl said, swallowing hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Of course, you are wondering how we ended up here with Cassian from the beginning p>
He was right. I was so worried about Cassian’s current condition that I hadn’t cared about what actually happened after he protected me. The thought made guilt coil tightly in my stomach.
I looked at Rosetta. She looked terrified, her shoulders hunched inward as if trying to make herself smaller. Her eyes kept flickering toward Cassian, lingering on his bloodied claws before darting away again.
“Just speak. He won’t do anything. Not on my watch,” I said. I straightened unconsciously, placing myself slightly in front of her. My voice was firm, but my heart was pounding.
She swallowed hard and nodded. “It was Keane who helped him,” she began.
Draken and I froze.
“What?” The word slipped out of me, breathless.
Rosetta nodded quietly. Her fingers twisted together until her knuckles turned white. “Our plan was to leave you two burning alive in that building and head to the capital city. My deal with Tyran was to make sure Keane stayed safe, just as Elle had a deal with Tyran to keep Marco safe. However-” She pressed her lips together, her voice trembling. “Tyran betrayed me. Without letting me know, he left Keane upstairs unconscious and fled to the capital city p>
Cassian let out a low, furious growl at the mention of Tyran. The chains pulled taut for a second, metal groaning under the strain.
“At first, I thought Keane might have joined him,” Rosetta continued, her voice shaking. “So I went back to make sure you both died and to put up the barrier around the area. But that was when I noticed Keane.” She glanced at Cassian again, fear flickering in her eyes. “His wolf was on fire, but he was leading Cassian toward the exit p>
My breath hitched. “What did you say?” My voice cracked despite my effort to stay calm. “The fire was already all over the building. Why didn’t Cassian get burned p>
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Chapter 168
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“I don’t know!” she said quickly, almost choking on the words. “It was as if Keane was under the influence of something. The fire surrounded him completely, but Cassian stayed untouched. Keane didn’t even react until they both walked out p>
“Was that even possible?” I asked, my breath coming sharp and uneven. My chest felt tight as I looked at Cassian again. His eyes were still wild, unfocused, but there was pain there too. Deep, buried pain.
“Well, it is,” Carl said. His voice was slightly shaky, as if each word cost him effort. “Especially for Lycanthropes. They have their own defense mechanisms p>
“What do you mean?” I pressed, my pulse thudding in my ears.
“Cassian can’t be burned easily,” Carl said. “But he is scared of fire p>
“What?” My eyes widened. I stared at Cassian, disbelief washing over me. “He is scared of fire p>
Carl rubbed the back of his neck and nodded quietly. His gaze dropped to the floor. “Yes. He almost burned to death when he was a child p>
“But…” My voice softened despite myself. “He looked fine. He was holding me like he was more worried about me than the fire p>
“Well, isn’t it obvious?” Draken chimed in, shrugging his shoulders. “He was more scared of losing you than of the fire p>
My heart skipped a beat. Tears blurred my vision as I looked at Cassian. Blood was dripping steadily from his claws, the result of him constantly hitting and scraping against the restraints. His jaw was clenched so tightly that his muscles were trembling. My throat tightened painfully as the realization sank in. He had been ready to face everything alone just to protect me.
“Also-” Carl muttered, his voice dropping, “nobody protected him that day when he was a kid. But he survived. He wasn’t injured p>
“But how?” I whispered.
“Well…” Carl hesitated, then spoke slowly, “my grandpa used to say that Cassian’s father, who was a Lycan, had blessings from the Moon Goddess. It’s said the Moon Goddess loves Lycans more. Like having a favorite child. According to history, the first child she had with her human lover was half-wolf, half-human. With evolution, the perfect creature she dreamed of became a Lycan. It’s an old story, and I’m not sure how true it is. Nonetheless, it’s said Lycans can’t be killed by fire or drowning. The Moon Goddess’s protection is upon them p>
“I’ve heard something like that too,” Rosetta joined in, biting her nails anxiously. “In the history of witches, the only enemies they feared were Lycans because their magic didn’t work on them. Fire, water, or any other magical element didn’t affect them.” Her voice wavered. “It was terrifying. But he was different when he walked out. He didn’t shift back. His Lycan was killing anyone arrogant enough to stand in his way. His eyes were blood-red. His burned skin regenerated right in front of me, replaced by new flesh. As if he was a different person p>
Cassian let out another roar, louder this time, the sound thick with agony. The lights flickered briefly.
“Then-” Rosetta started trembling visibly now. “I can’t explain what happened, but it was pure horror. Not a
18:34 Tue, Feb 3
Chapter 168
single guard survived. It was like something inside him was switched on p>
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“But…” Draken frowned, looking at Cassian with narrowed eyes. “You said he has this new side. I don’t think it’s genetical. No Lycan suddenly goes berserk like that and stays that way for so long. It’s been a week since the war ended p>
Carl’s expression shifted immediately. His jaw tightened. His eyes lowered, shadows pooling beneath them, as if he knew exactly what had triggered Cassian.
“Are you hiding something we don’t know about?” I asked. My voice turned deadly calm. The air between us felt heavy, suffocating.
He flinched. His fingers curled into tight fists, knuckles whitening.
“It’s a trauma-related response,” he said quietly.
Everyone froze. The basement fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. Even Cassian’s growls faded into low, broken sounds.
“I am responsible for that.” He looked up, meeting my eyes, ” I made him like this p>
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18:34 Tue, Feb 3
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.